National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is taking a close look at the performance of tiger reserves for making budgetary allocation. While conservation plans of 16 out of 48 tiger reserves have not been approved by the authority, it has also rejected the eco tourism plan of Panna Tiger Reserve.
Many of the premier tiger reserves of the country including Ranthambore (Rajasthan), Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh), Tadoba-Andheri (Maharashtra) are amongst those hit in the process.
The others include Mukundra Hills (Rajasthan), Sanjay-Dubri (Madhya Pradesh) Kaziranga and Manas (Assam), Indravati (Chhattisgarh), Satkosia (Odisha), Nawegaon- Nagzira and Bor (Maharashtra), Sathyamangalam (Tamil Nadu), Rajaji (Uttarakhand) , Buxa (West Bengal), and Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh. According to sources in NTCA, their conservation plans have not been so far approved.
According to sources in the NTCA, a ruling by the Supreme Court calls for timely submission and approval of conservation plan for budgetary allocation. The NTCA had also written to the respective State Governments reminding that budgetary allocation shall not be made for 2016-17 in absence of the approved plan.
To add to the above, even the eco tourism plan of Panna has been rejected. Even as the State Government submitted a revised eco tourism plan, the proposed rise in tourism activities was found to be in contravention of the normative guidelines issued by the NTCA. The sources once again pointed to the Supreme Court verdict that lays down norms for tourism related pressures and activities in a tiger reserve. This was the reason for not recommending the eco tourism plan for Kanha, said the sources.
Wildlife experts have appreciated the move of NTCA, which according to them ensures better conservation of tigers. Preparation of tiger conservation plan is a legally mandated obligation on the part of State Governments to get annual grant for conservation of big cats. The tiger conservation plans are very important for conservation of big cats and Environment Ministry should take up the matter seriously, they added.